Non-contact magnetic pattern recognition sensor

A document handling system including magnetic document verification, comprising:

• a magnetic pattern detection system, and
• a means for transferring a document to be verified to said magnetic pattern recognition detection system, wherein said magnetic pattern detection system comprises:
• a housing;
• a magnetic detector comprising at least one magneto resistive (MR) sensor array having an easy axis within said housing;
• a magnetic field source within said housing, said magnetic field source operable when turned on to provide a magnetic field to line up random magnetic domains along said easy axis of said MR array, and
• an amplifier coupled to an output of said MR sensor array, wherein said amplifier is within said housing, and a
• processor including associated memory having stored magnetic pattern data, said processor controlling operations of said system including analyzing data collected by said magnetic pattern detection system to determine authenticity or identification of said document.

A method for validating documents having magnetic material therein using magnetic detector comprising a magneto-resistive (MR) sensor array, wherein said detector is within an electrically conductive housing, comprising:

• reading a magnetic pattern embedded in a document to be identified using said MR array, wherein an electrical signal is generated;
• amplifying said electrical signal within said housing to provide an amplified electrical signal;
• comparing said amplified electrical signal to at least one reference signal, and
• determining an authenticity or identification of said document based on said comparing.